New Brunswick Friend To The Environment

The Friend to the Environment Challenge is designed for all members of guiding.
The purpose of this challenge to get outdoors or bring the outdoors in and to
learn to appreciate the
relationship between our daily lives and the environment
around us.

Create a craft from recycled material or make the equipment needed for a
game. (mini
-
golf, obstacle course). Or make some musical instruments.

Learn or create a song and or game about recycling. Share it with other units.

Learn about the water cycle.
Learn about water conservation projects in your
community.
How much do you use in a day? What can you do to make a
difference?
Can you use less?

Where does your family get its water? How can we keep our waterways
clean and unpolluted?

Find out about the endangered animals and plants in Canada. Show on a
map where others live in the world. What can we
do to help?
Give a
presentation on your findings.

Find about animals in their habitat, watch a movie or read a story. Don’t
forget about the animals that live in the cities.

What is your family’s environmental footprint on the earth?

How can we reduce
our “Footprint” on the earth in our everyday living, and
at camp.

Build one of the following: bird house, bird feeder, bat house, duck nesting
box.
What do you have to do to maintain it?
Record
who uses it and in what
seasons.

Plant a tree and help take care of it. Why are trees important to the
environment?

Plant a vegetable or flower garden.

Play a stalking game. Learn how and why animals use camouflage in their
habitat.

Have a catch and release bug hunt. Identify them; which ones are harmful
and which ones are useful to us for a healthy earth. Don’t forget the slugs
and worms.

Find out about one of the following:
Composting, recycled paper or biodegradable cleaners. How can you implement this at home at school and at your unit meeting
place?

Find out what materials are recyclable in your community.
Why are some
things not recycled?
Where does it go and what happens when it gets
there.
If possible
visit
a recycling station?
Or the blue boxes if
you have
them in your area.
What is the difference between recyclable and
refundable?

How many bags of garbage are thrown out each week at your house?
Find ways to reduce your household garbage.

What is air pollution? How can we help improve the air w
e breathe?

Create an age appropriate presentation for another Guiding unit about
the environment, endangered animals, recycling, water, air, litter or caring
for the earth. Include songs, skits, games and a craft.

Plan and carry out an advertising campaign in your community or school
on
the benefits of
one of the following:
a) biodegradable cleaners
b)
recycled paper
c) composting

Can you Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse? How?

Sew cloth grocery bags. Give them to shoppers with information about
be
ing a friend to the environment.

Debate which is best cloth or plastic bags. Consider cleanliness and
availablity and who will use them and how often.

What portion of New Brunswick’s trade and workforce is dependent on
our natural resources. What measur
es are being taken by industry or
government to conserve the resource?

Invite a resource person to the unit to discuss careers
in environment
biology or natural resource management

Visit a maple sugar farm. Learn about trees and how sap is produced.

Participate in a litter pickup. Make posters to put up in your community
about littering.

Crests are available from the Provincial Office. Cost is 1.50 each (currently sold out)